Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will call the national championship game between Alabama and Clemson. Fowler joined Herbstreit in the booth for the first time beginning last season. The duo call the Saturday Night Football games each week on ABC/ESPN during the regular season.
Fowler was the long-time host of College Gameday. Last season, he balanced his duties as Gameday host, college football and tennis play-by-play. In the midst of contract negotiations with Rece Davis, Davis was awarded the Gameday host role by ESPN. The company wanted Fowler to focus on tennis and his college football play-by-play duties. They also were attempting to keep Davis from leaving the network while also keeping Fowler happy.
Fowler and Herbstreit offer a unique chemistry to their broadcast given their decade of Gameday coverage together. Fowler replaced former play-by-play man Brent Musburger.
ESPN has expanded coverage of the national championship game tonight. They are continuing their “Megacast” tradition. ESPN has said there are “14 ways” to watch the game between Alabama and Clemson.
ESPN2 will offer a film room with Brian Griese, Chris Spielman and a host of current/former coaches breaking down each play. ESPNNEWS will offer more of a living room approach with Michelle Beadle, Jay Bilas, Taylor Twellman and Marcellus Wiley. ESPN Classic will offer the game without any announcers and just the sounds of the game. SEC Network has Paul Finebaum broadcasting a live call-in show near the stadium. ESPNU will feature their “Homers Telecast” with former Clemson and Alabama players commenting on the action. The WatchESPN app has additional camera angles for fans to access such as the student section and pylon cam.
For the traditional live coverage on ESPN, Heather Cox and Tom Rinaldi will be the sideline reporters for the championship game that kicks off at 8:30 p.m. ET.